Booz Allen Classic

We are in Maryland this week for The Booz Allen Classic played at the Congressional Country Club.  Mike typically does not play this event on his schedule, however with the date of the event changed this year and the course is a great challenge, so he decided to play. 

It's been a tough couple of past events for Mike missing three cuts in a row, but I have no doubt that he will get it all figured out.  He's been in a similar spot back in 2002 and went on to win his first major in the next year.  These are just the highs and lows of golf, and if anyone can get through it, it's Mike.
 
This tournament is normally held at the TPC in Maryland, right outside of Washington, DC, but the TPC has been under construction for a year.  Instead, this event is being played this week on at one of the finest golf courses in America. 
 
Even though next week is the US Open and the majors usually provide the best courses on Tour all year, I have to say that I prefer this golf course to Pinehurst (which will be played next week).  The old fashioned tree-lined country club at Congressional is one of my favorite golf courses and one of the more difficult courses we will play all year.  It has the feel of a major championship.
 
This is the only golf course that I can remember playing on tour that finishes with a par 3.
 
The course has been hit with some very heavy rains in the past few days; therefore, it will play much softer than it normally does.  With the heat reaching the low 90s and high humidity levels the course will probably not firm up much through the weekend. 
 
The greens at Congressional have some of the most severe slopes I have seen anywhere.  They have a tendency to slope from back to front so keeping the ball under the hole is mandatory all the time. 
 
The rough is moderate for normal Tour events.  It is long enough to cause some havoc but it is definitely playable. 
 
The par 3’s on the golf course are the most difficult holes.  Number 2 is 233 yards straight uphill with a severely sloped green.  For most it will be either a long iron or fairway wood.  It is not a hole where you will see many birdies this week and I expect most people will be happy with par.   Number 12 is 190 yards and is also uphill.  There are two different sections to the green and proper position on the green is a must.  Hole 18 is also 190 yards - all over water forcing the players to take a little extra club.  If a shot lands past the hole it could lead to a few fast downhill putts which will probably be the shot for most golfers. 
 
Due to the wet fairways the par 5’s will play extremely long.  Number 6 is only 545 yards in length but has water protecting the front and right side of the green thus forcing most players to lay up with their second shot.  Number 9 is 600 yards where the only chance to get to the green in two is to fly the ball on the green as the area in front of it is a deep valley.  This will be a lay-up for 95% of the field.  Number 10 is normally a short par 5, but has been converted to a long 494 yard par 4.  Number 15, the last par 5, is 580 yards and will also be unreachable in two for most. 
 
Of all the par 4’s, number 10 is the most difficult in my opinion.  The second shot will be a long iron or potentially even a fairway wood with water up the right side of the green.  This will force most guys to keep their second shot up the left, which is guarded by a deep bunker.  This hole will probably play the most difficult this week allowing few birdies. 
 
Number 17 is also a great hole.  It is a 465 par 4 that has the left half of the green protected by water.  The left pins are very difficult to get the ball close to the hole.  This was the case when the US Open was held here and Tom Lehman, who had a one shot lead at the time, hooked his approach shot into the water.  Playing this hole well all week will be very important and names at the top of the leaderboard could change as they come to 18. 
 
Overall the most important factor this week will be approach shots and iron play.  As previously mentioned, the greens are so difficult that it is mandatory to hit the ball on the proper side of the hole to have any chance to make a putt.  Putting downhill is going to be treacherous.  Look for the guy who wins this week to play some very smart golf.  Patience will play a huge role in low scores.
 
Thanks for reading,